by TeachThought Employees
How do you cite a tweet MLA Type?
First, let’s make clear that whereas it’s not precisely an Oxford library and due to this fact will not be the primary place you go to for scholarly analysis, opposite to fashionable perception there are issues on twitter value citing.
Lengthy an oblique however potent software of torture in English school rooms and College campuses in every single place, the MLA (and different cohorts, together with APA and Chicago) launched a format for quoting tweets in formal writing. We’ve excerpted a number of the most typical questions for citing tweets in MLA model, however you may try their suggestions for extra steerage and associated studying on analysis, quotation, and citing tweets for analysis functions.
The Fashionable Language Affiliation (MLA) pointers for citing content material from X (previously generally known as Twitter) concentrate on utilizing the put up’s textual content because the title, figuring out the writer by their deal with, and guaranteeing the URL is accessible.
The Fundamentals: MLA ninth Version Format
As a result of the platform has rebranded, the container title is now X, although Twitter is suitable if referring to a historic put up or if the URL nonetheless reads ‘twitter.com’.
The Normal Formulation: @deal with (Actual Identify). “The total textual content of the tweet goes right here.” X, Day Month 12 months, URL.
1. Creator and Deal with
- Deal with First: Start the quotation with the consumer’s deal with (together with the @ image).
- Actual Identify: If the consumer’s actual identify (or show identify) is understood and completely different from the deal with, embrace it in parentheses instantly after the deal with.
- Instance:
@neiltyson (Neil deGrasse Tyson).
2. The “Title” (Tweet Textual content)
- Full Textual content: In contrast to articles with formal headlines, the “title” of a put up on X is the textual content of the put up itself. Enclose the textual content in citation marks.
- Capitalization: Don’t alter the capitalization of the unique put up; reproduce it precisely as written.
- Hashtags: Embody hashtags as they seem within the textual content.
3. Dealing with Lengthy Posts
Whereas the character restrict on X has expanded, MLA suggests truncating the textual content for the quotation title if the put up is excessively lengthy.
- Ellipsis: Use the primary sentence or a significant phrase, adopted by an ellipsis (
...) on the finish of the quote. - Hashtags in Lengthy Posts: For those who truncate the textual content, you don’t want to incorporate the hashtags except they’re a part of the section you preserved.
4. Date and URL
- Date: Listing the day, month (abbreviated), and yr.
- Time: MLA ninth version usually doesn’t require the timestamp for social media except the put up is a part of a fast sequence (like a reside thread) the place distinction is important.
- URL: Copy the direct hyperlink to the put up. Chances are you’ll normally omit the
https://prefix.
Quotation Examples
Normal Put up (Quick)
@NASA. “It’s a busy week for the station! The crew is getting ready for a spacewalk and a cargo mission.” X, 12 Nov. 2024,x.com/NASA/standing/example123.
Truncated Put up (Lengthy)
@teachthought. “Essential pondering isn’t just a ability, it’s a behavior of thoughts that requires fixed cultivation. . . .” X, 24 Could 2025,x.com/teachthought/standing/example456.
Put up with a Recognized Creator Identify
@StephenKing (Stephen King). “I’ve seen the way forward for horror, and it’s named. . . .” X, 10 Oct. 2023,twitter.com/StephenKing/standing/example789.
Citing a Thread (A number of Authors) If a thread includes a number of contributors related to your work, cite the particular put up you might be quoting. If referencing the dialog usually, listing the first writer adopted by et al.
@edutopia et al. “How do you deal with classroom administration in a BYOD setting?” X, 15 Aug. 2024,x.com/edutopia/standing/example321.
So, there you will have it–now you understand how to quote tweet in MLA model/format. We’ve additionally received scores and scores of sources for utilizing social media within the classroom to discover as properly.
